Process of and apparatus for manufacturing polishing-wheels



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0 0 e A. JOHNSTON. mocnss OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POLISHINGWHEELS; No. 588,068. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

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A. JOHNSTON. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POLISHINGWHEELS. No. 588,068. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

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(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

A. JOHNSTON. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POLISHINGWHEELS.

No. 588,068. Patented Aug. 10, 1897.

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l4! QZQAA M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEI JOHNSTON, OF OTTUMWA, IOIVA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POLISHING-WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,068, dated August10, 1897.

Application filed November 7,1896. Serial No- 611,418. (No model.)

To (LU whom it may COIL-667W.

Be it known that I, ALLEN JOHNSTON, of Ottumwa, Iowa, have invented newand useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for theManufacture of Polishing- Wheels, which improvements are fully set forthin the following specification.

This invention has reference to an. im proved process of and apparatusfor the manufacture of polishing-wheels. It specially concernspolishing-wheels wherein the polishing material, ordinarily a mixture ofbeeswax and emery, but sometimes tallow or paraffin, or both, are alsoadded, is spread upon the surface of the wheel, made of wood, metal, orany suitable material. As heretofore generally applied the surface ofthe wheel has been roughened and the polishing mixture rubbed and workedon by hand, with the result that it is put on unevenlythat is, the layerof polishing material is of variable thickness. To remedy this-latterobjection, it has been necessary to turn off a portion of the material,so as to reduce the layer to a uniform thickness, which of courseinvolves a waste of material. Furthermore, these operations require theservices of a skilled operator.

According to my present invention the p01- ishing material, of suchcharacter as to be softened by heat, is evenly and smoothly applied orlaid over the surface of the wheel by the use of a heated roller. Ineffecting this result the wheel to be coated is slowly rotated incontact with the heated roller, mounted to rotate therewith and to exerta positive and unyielding pressure against the surface thereof, duringwhich time the polishing material, in a somewhat plastic state, is heldagainst the wheel, and portions thereof adhere to the wheel at eachrotation. Contact of the roller against the, material adhering to thewheel softens said material to some extent and permits it to becompactly, evenly, and smoothly rolled down by reason of the pressure ofthe roller, and whether the material be softened or not by the heatedroller the heat of the latter prevents the polishing mixture fromadhering thereto when pressed between its surface and the cold surfaceof the wheel, to which it adheres in a compact and uniform layer. A fewrotations are sufficient to complete the polishing-wheel, which as thusproduced is more quickly manufactured, much cheaper, and more durablethan Wheels to which the polishing material is applied by the methodsheretofore practiced.

Suitable means are provided for changing the position of the roller,whereby it can, when desired, be moved into and out of contact with thewheel and also adjusted in operation to maintain proper contact of itssurface with that of the wheel.

Any suitable means may be employed for heating the surface of theroller, that preferred being to make the roller hollow and to admitsteam to the interior thereof.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a convenient form of apparatusfor carrying out my improved process, but I do not, of course, limitmyself thereto, as a suitable roller and means for heating the same canbe applied to various machines wherein a polishing-wheel of the kinddescribed is employed, and, if desirable, be so mounted that withoutdisturbing the wheel it can be thrown into contact therewith forcarrying out the process.

In said drawings, Figure lis a vertical section al view, parts being inelevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view; and Fig. 3 is a sectional View atright angles to Fig. 1, taken through the pressurc-roller.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a wheel the periphery of whichis to be coated with a layer of polishing material mounted to rotate onits axle a, which restsin bearings b of framework 13.

b is a crank on the axle a for rotating the wheel. Y

O is a table supported on said framework, its edge 0 adjacent to thepolishing-wheel being undercut.

D is a frame resting upon the table 0 and having flanges d (1 dependingalong the front edge 0 and rear edge of the table, respectively. Theflange (Z is slightly dovetailed under the undercut edge a, which latteracts as a pivotpoint against which the frame D is tilted by means of ascrew-threaded bolt a passing therethrough and bearing against the topof table 0. Bolt 6 is rotated by a hand-wheel e.

The pressure-roller is composed of two end disks ff, each having,respectively, a trunnion f bearing in the frame D. Between the disks f fis clamped a ring g, the edges of the disks extending slightly beyondthe ring, so that in effect the rollerhas a peripheral groove of acontour corresponding to that to be imparted to the polishing materialof the finished wheel. Passages h h extend through trunnion f to theinterior of the drum, one serving as a steam-inlet and the other as anexhaust. Any suitable connections may be made with a source ofsteamsupply.

In operation the frame D is tilted so that the heated roller pressesagainst the periphery of wheel A, which latter is then rotated by crank1). During its rotation the polishing material is held against theperiphery thereof, (byhand and by other suitable means not shown,) andthat which adheres to the wheel is rolled down into a compact and evencoating of uniform thickness, as already described.

I am aware that it has heretofore been pro posed to employ heatedrollers for the purpose of smoothing and drying or hardening a polishingmaterial composed of glue and emery upon the surface of agrindingwheel,the polishing wheel in .such' apparatus being mounted to rest by its ownweight upon the heated rollers, no other power being employed forpressing the wheel and rollers together and the driving power beingapplied to the rollers. According to myinvention the heating-roller isheld against the surface of the wheel by positive and unyieldingpressure, and the wheel itself is positively rotated in contact withsaid roller instead of resting loosely thereon and receiving motion byfriction.

By my invention the polishing material (such as paraffin and emery) issoftened and spread by the action of the heated roller, whereas the oldoperation above referred to consisted in hardening and drying thepolishing material.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described process of applying to the surface of a wheel acoating of polishing material which will soften by heat, said processconsisting in preparing a mixture, such as beeswax and emery, rotatingthe wheel, applying said mixture to the wheel while rotating, andsoftening and spreading the mixture upon the surface of the wheel as theformer is applied to the latter, by the pressure of a rotating heatedbody, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for applying polishing material consisting of amixture of abrading and binding material that will soften by heat to apolishing-wheel, the combination of a frame in which the polishing-wheelis mounted, and a heated roller mounted in a separate frame, said framesbeing adj ustably connected, so that the polishing-wheel and roller canbe brought into contact during the application of the polishingmaterial, and removed from contact when the apparatus is not inoperation, substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for applying a polishing materialsuch as a mixture ofbeeswax and emery-to the surface of a wheel in a compact and uniformmanner, consisting of a rigidlymounted roller adapted to be pressedagainst the wheel, bearings in which said wheel is rigidly mounted,means for heating the surface of the roller, means for adjusting thepresser-roller and wheel relatively to each other, and driving means forrotating the wheel, substantially as described.

4. In apparatusfor applying polishing material to the surface of awheel, a roller mounted in a suitable frame, bearings for rigidlyholding the wheel, means for rotating the wheel, and means-such as ascrewfor tilting the frame to adjust the roller with reference to thepolishing-surface, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this.

specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLEN JOHNSTON.

\Vitnesses:

J. T. HAoxwoR'rH, G. Bmxs.

